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Articles by Danielle Higley
Why small business owners need to stay on top of taxes all year long — and how to do it
This article was paid for by Intuit QuickBooks. There’s a reason so many business owners invest in an accountant or tax professional: Close to a quarter (23%) worry about underpaying the IRS, according to a 2026 QuickBooks survey, while 12% are concerned they're giving too much. More than a third (34%) worry about both risks equally. Anything that affects your business — from revenue and expenses to payroll and insurance — can impact your tax situation.
4 Proven Accounting Tips Construction Managers Can Use To Streamline Financial Operations
This article was paid for by Intuit QuickBooks. If you’re committed to overcoming cash flow constraints, you may want to take a tip from your contractor. Cash flow issues are a major problem in construction, an industry known for tight margins and long payment timelines.
4 smart invoicing strategies to help your small business get paid faster
This article was paid for by Intuit QuickBooks. When it comes to getting paid, "better late than never"is one maxim that business owners should never adopt. According to Intuit QuickBooks’ 2025 Small Business Late Payment Report, 56% of small businesses are owed money for unpaid invoices. The average past-due amount clocks in at a whopping $17,500. Close to half (47%) of those surveyed said they have invoices that are more than 30 days overdue.
Struggling to get a loan? 3 tips for small business owners
This article was paid for by Intuit QuickBooks. There’s nothing simple about running a small business. Staying on top of daily administrative tasks like payroll and invoicing is complicated enough. But if you’ve ever had to apply for a business loan — or pursue a second loan opportunity after being turned down — you know it adds a whole new layer of difficulty.
6 Ways AI Helps Business Owners Manage Their Finances Original
This article was paid for by Intuit QuickBooks. AI has created countless opportunities for business owners to become more efficient and reduce human error — even when it comes to managing their finances. In July 2025, 71% of small businesses reported regularly using AI tools, according to the latest Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Insights survey, up from 39% the previous year. Meanwhile, the percentage of businesses that have never used AI has shrunk from 40% in 2024 to just 23% in 2025.
5 Things Everyone Wishes Their Boss Did
May 29, 2024 at 11:00 AM DepositPhotos.com Being your own boss is amazing, but if you have employees, it’s important to keep their happiness and wellbeing top of mind as well. A team that feels appreciated, supported, and heard is a team that’s likely to stay engaged long-term, and that means less turnover, fewer hiring expenses, and better morale overall. Kevin Wong, co-founder of Lunar Hard Seltzer, has put in the time and effort to build a growing, thriving team.
3 smart ways to scale your small business
As a freelancer, you can often lower your tax liability by deducting expenses that were incurred to operate your business. There are a wide range of deductions you may be able to take, including a home office, supplies for that home office, your computer, your car expenses, and possibly even a portion of your monthly cell phone and internet bills.
How to Attract Employees to Your Manufacturing Business
Rumors have been flying for years that the United States manufacturing industry is dead. And the evidence is everywhere. American-born companies like Maytag and General Motors have moved operations overseas. Factories of all sizes have decreased in number since 1998. Politicians bring it up regularly, making promises to “bring jobs back” to the U.S. And yet, if we’re talking manufacturing jobs, the industry itself certainly is not dead.
5 tips for being a better boss
Being your own boss is amazing, but if you have employees, it’s important to keep their happiness and wellbeing top of mind as well. A team that feels appreciated, supported, and heard is a team that’s likely to stay engaged long-term, and that means less turnover, fewer hiring expenses, and better morale overall. Kevin Wong, co-founder of Lunar Hard Seltzer, has put in the time and effort to build a growing, thriving team.
A plan to be profitable: 3 business strategies that actually work
In the first couple years, small business success has more to do with achieving benchmarks than profitability alone. These benchmarks are reached via a mix of the marketing, financing, and money management tools discussed in earlier episodes, culminating in a clear path to growth and profits. Emily Doyle and Mei Kwok, founders of Dune Suncare, have experienced substantial growth in their first three years, despite not yet being profitable.
5 Ways to Create a Better Work/Life Balance for Your Employees
Employee Engagement Ask your employees what they want most, and chances are they’ll answer: a better work/life balance. In survey after survey, work/life balance tops employees’ most-wanted list, eclipsing even bigger paychecks. Often, it’s the trigger that pushes employees to leave; sometimes, it’s the saving grace that ensures they don’t. After all, happy, healthy employees are also more productive employees.
5 tips to surprise and delight customers during the holidays
There’s an old marketing strategy every business strives to employ at least once: surprise and delight. Some businesses are hands-down better at it than others. Chewy, for instance, an online retailer of pet food and products, has been known to send flowers to bereaved pet owners. In the past, they’ve also asked customers to donate unwanted pet food to their local animal shelter instead of shipping it back — while still issuing a refund.
Workplace Poster Requirements 101
Compliance It’s one of HR’s most important, and seemingly antiquated, responsibilities: hanging up workplace posters. Sadly, these aren’t the band or movie posters of your youth. Employers are federally required to display notices covering a broad range of topics, including the minimum wage, workplace safety, and family and medical leave. Learn everything you need to know about workplace poster requirements in our post.
What is the UK's 'Making Tax Digital' initiative?
HMRC’s new regulation is the biggest shake-up of tax laws in a generation, bringing tax into the digital age. From April 2022, all VAT-registered businesses and organisations are required to follow Making Tax digital rules for their VAT return. This means it’s advisable to start keeping electronic records of your business transactions sooner rather than later – for example, through QuickBooks’ Making Tax Digital software. ______________________ SPONSORED: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor 1.
Set up your business for online sales in 5 easy steps
For many brick-and-mortar shops, diversifying revenue streams means putting products and services on an online marketplace. Over a quarter of small businesses are choosing to sell more products and services online this year, according to a recent QuickBooks survey. 94% say the coronavirus has influenced this change. Many were forced to close their physical doors while their consumers sheltered in place. Others had to rethink their business offerings and processes to fit an e-commerce-driven world.
How to Reduce Waste in Your Small Business
Opportunities to Reduce Waste There are lots of tangible and intangible opportunities to operate more sustainably as a business. If you’ve already added glass recycling to your company’s after-work happy hour, kudos! Check out these other ideas to get the ball rolling. Energy and Carbon Emissions Here’s a fun fact for financially savvy business owners: Every state has its own price per kilowatt-hour (kWh). It’s currently lowest in Louisiana (7.71 cents/kWh) and highest in Hawaii (28.72 cents/kWh).
Alone together: Self-employed architect shares his PPP story
In the midst of a pandemic and nationwide quarantines, many people have taken up hobbies—macramé, decoupage, Paul Hollywood-level pastry work. Skyler Kogachi is no exception. In his spare time, the Los Angeles-based business owner has become a master baker. It’s a bright spot in an otherwise challenging point in history. “I do a lot of baking, so I thought, ‘OK, I’m going to do 10 videos for 10 of my best recipes,’” he says.
How to improve business processes and boost growth
If there’s one thing business owners don’t have enough of, it’s time. Improving your business processes through automation, integration, or outsourcing are great ways to get time back. Here are four simple steps to help you streamline your systems. What are business processes? Business processes are the actions or tasks you or your team perform to achieve business goals. They can be everyday things like communication or more complex financial processes such as managing expenses and transactions.
5 ways to keep coronavirus from stopping work at your small business
Amid the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, there have also been moments of brightness. Citizens making music together from their balconies in Italy. People braving the supermarket to buy staples for elderly neighbors. Athletes donating money to hourly workers and staff whose jobs are in limbo. Among the bright spots are the inspiring ways small businesses are getting creative to keep offering their goods and services.
3 Reasons to Boost Your Employee Benefits Offerings in 2020
“I don’t really care about my employee benefits,” said no employee ever. When it comes to employee benefits, if your business can offer it, employees want it. That’s the case for any employee benefit, from time off to healthcare to flexible work arrangements to workers’ comp insurance. Naturally, most businesses can’t afford the king suite of benefits—unlimited PTO, free insurance, etc.
3 Reasons to Boost Your Employee Benefits Offerings in 2020
“I don’t really care about my employee benefits,” said no employee ever. When it comes to employee benefits, if your business can offer it, employees want it. That’s the case for any employee benefit, from time off to healthcare to flexible work arrangements to workers’ comp insurance. Naturally, most businesses can’t afford the king suite of benefits—unlimited PTO, free insurance, etc.
Celebrating family business payroll managers for National Payroll Week
A personal relationship becomes professional Since its conception by the American Payroll Association, National Payroll Week has been celebrated with a goal of raising awareness for employees and the payroll professionals who support them. At Cobblestone Construction, Breege is that professional. “My mom handled the business side of things, including running QuickBooks and payroll before me,” she says.
8 Ways to Advise Your Clients Outside of Tax Season
Join Thousands of Fellow Followers Login or register now to gain instant access to the rest of this premium content! Let’s start here: I am not a tax professional. I understand very little about taxes beyond the W-somethings I fill out at work. Fortunately, I don’t need to be an expert. That’s what my CPA, Dorothy, is for. And she’s been an incredible asset to me these last several years, helping me move states, change jobs, tally up deductions, and more.
3 Types of Compensation Packages To Consider and Why
Most of us receive a paycheck, so it’s easy to assume compensation packages are pretty black and white. Some folks are hourly, some are salaried, and depending on what role they play, others receive bonuses or commissions based on their performance. Simple, right? Not so much.
Money-saving tips from the ‘front page’ of the Internet
For most people, personal finances ebb and flow. One minute, you’re surrounded by a wave of good fortune; the next, your bank account has run dry. It’s no wonder that according to a recent QuickBooks Payroll survey, 1 out of 5 employees says they run out of money every week. It may sound a bit silly to set savings goals of $20 here or $50 there. After all, what good can $20 do in an emergency fund when the rent’s due? But it’s amazing how those tiny contributions add up.
Beyond quote banks, into the journey and data
Bryce Welker was never cut out to be an employee. When asked what would have to happen to make him go back to working for someone else, he doesn’t mince his words: “I would have to be homeless.” Bryce’s resistance to working under someone else’s command doesn’t come from a lack of work ethic, perseverance, or loyalty. “I worked really hard,” he says, “and I was a top performer.
Americans dish on their daily employee lunch breaks in new survey
Contrary to reports that the American lunch break is dying, a new TSheets by QuickBooks survey published in March 2019 found Americans typically get more than 30 minutes—higher than the global average. While they eat, American workers multitask, whether that’s running a few errands or catching up on social media. Many employees ignore the need to relax altogether and eat while they work, preferring to clock out early rather than catch their breath midway through the day.
9 workplace benefits to inspire employee loyalty
Believe it or not, 43% of employees would like to change jobs within the next two years, according to a recent survey by QuickBooks Payroll. Think about that. If you have 10 people on your team, four of them might be moving on some time within the next 24 months. If you know anything about the cost of employee turnover, you know how expensive it is to replace competent people—around $15,000, according to the Work Institute’s 2017 report.
3 brutal tips for making self-employment work
Sometimes — particularly in business — you just need someone to tell it to you straight. There are a lot of tips to sift through when you first get started, and let’s face it: Not all of those suggestions are helpful. We recently had the pleasure of interviewing two self-employed business owners, hand-picked from the QuickBooks Ambassador Program. Both of them are fairly new to the game but have found a great deal of success so far and are happy to share.
The Do’s and Don'ts of a Flexible Work Schedule
A great team is hard to find and expensive to replace. Money aside, losing top performers affects morale and, worst-case scenario, can prompt a mass exodus, leaving whole departments devoid of senior leadership and perspective. That’s why it’s so important to engage employees in ways that are meaningful and desirable. But what does “meaningful and desirable” mean? And what kind of impact does it have on your bottom line?
5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019
Member Content Blogs | Questions | HR Groups | Members Webcasts & Events Upcoming Events Webcasts Virtual Conferences Past Events Webcasts Virtual Conferences Public Events Upcoming Public Events Upcoming Public Events My Events Manage your events by above links Raksha Sanjay Nag (HR.com) added the blog, 5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019. Hello, The January issue of Rewards & Recognition, Employee Engagement Excellence is live.
5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019
Raksha Sanjay Nag (HR.com) added the blog, 5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019. Hello, The January issue of Rewards & Recognition, Employee Engagement Excellence is live. This publication covers rewards programs, recognition ideas, and ways to engage your workforce. In This Issue Workforce Predictions For 2019 - The Year Of Employee Experience: Top 5 trends By Alex Shubat Building And Maintaining A Diverse And Inclusive Workforce: What an employer should do?
5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019
Raksha Sanjay Nag (HR.com) added the blog, 5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019. Hello, The January issue of Rewards & Recognition, Employee Engagement Excellence is live. This publication covers rewards programs, recognition ideas, and ways to engage your workforce. In This Issue Workforce Predictions For 2019 - The Year Of Employee Experience: Top 5 trends By Alex Shubat Building And Maintaining A Diverse And Inclusive Workforce: What an employer should do?
5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019
Raksha Sanjay Nag (HR.com) added the blog, 5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019. Hello, The January issue of Rewards & Recognition, Employee Engagement Excellence is live. This publication covers rewards programs, recognition ideas, and ways to engage your workforce. In This Issue Workforce Predictions For 2019 - The Year Of Employee Experience: Top 5 trends By Alex Shubat Building And Maintaining A Diverse And Inclusive Workforce: What an employer should do?
5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019
Raksha Sanjay Nag (HR.com) added the blog, 5 Ways To Improve Employee Engagement In 2019. Hello, The January issue of Rewards & Recognition, Employee Engagement Excellence is live. This publication covers rewards programs, recognition ideas, and ways to engage your workforce. In This Issue Workforce Predictions For 2019 - The Year Of Employee Experience: Top 5 trends By Alex Shubat Building And Maintaining A Diverse And Inclusive Workforce: What an employer should do?
How to Keep Organizations Safe This Holiday Season
Hello, The December issue of Workforce Management, Time and Attendance Excellence is live. This publication encompasses all solutions; topics include planning, scheduling, attendance, absence management, labor tracking and more.
A Deep Dive into Small Businesses and Taxes
A Deep Dive into Small Businesses and Taxes Client Relationships As many of your small business clients know all too well, it can be a struggle to comply with tax laws. The administrative mechanisms provided by the IRS aren’t widely understood or used, and constantly evolving regulations leave many questions unanswered. Compared to big businesses, small business owners may struggle more with compliance due to limited resources and expertise.
What Are the Best and Worst Places for Tipped Workers? | By Danielle Higley – Hospitality Net
Tipped workers aren't like big-name executives in the sense that they don't typically have the luxury of deciding where to work, based on salary. Say you're waiting tables in Utah, where the minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour, and the average tip rate is about 16.49 percent. Not great, but it's unlikely you'd apply for a similar job in Florida, just to make $5.23 an hour, plus an average 18.21 percent tip rate.
Employees Love Working Remotely—is it Good for Business? | Fundbox Blog
Offering workers the opportunity to work remotely some or even all of the time is a growing trend. The benefits are insurmountable, from fewer cars on the road to improved mental health, according to a recent study of 500 U.S. workers by TSheets by QuickBooks. While working from home has obvious appeal to workers—a recent survey found 57 percent of workers would like the option to work from home—many employers find the practice benefits them as well.
Small Business Operations Survey 2018
Few small business owners go into business thinking, “I can’t wait to handle all my own accounting!” Rather, it’s a job built on passion, where day-to-day operations are a constant work in progress with a steep learning curve. But despite the fact operations often take business owners outside their wheelhouse, surprisingly few rely on technology to simplify their task lists.
Small Business Recruitment Survey 2018
As for the hiring itself, perhaps it’s a testament to how great that first hire was, but 72% of respondents said they thought it’d be harder to hire a good first employee today. That’s interesting, given the wide range of search options available to employees and employers alike, helping companies connect with qualified job applicants.
Self-Employed Workers Admit to Tax Challenges
Taxes can be complicated and confusing. So complicated, in fact, taxpayers might be tempted to roll the dice and just skip tax season altogether. Knowing the IRS is watching may be the only thing holding some people back from doing just that. Yet, a recent independent survey of 500 freelancers by QuickBooks Self-Employed shows some 36 percent of self-employed workers are taking their chances. Why are more than a third of the self-employed not paying taxes?
Small Business Pay and Benefits Report: QuickBooks
Considering 15% of employees had a raise of 6%–10% this year, it may be time to take a look at those workers who haven’t had a raise in a while. Consider the value they bring to the table. Can you afford to lose them, based not only on their financial contributions but their soft skills, including leadership, positivity, and reliability?
Wage Theft Is Real, But Time Tracking Isn’t the Problem
Some people call it “wage theft,” some call it “time theft.” What’s important isn’t the name, but the act: companies not paying employees for all the time they’ve worked. This problem has been in the news a lot lately. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and Elizabeth Tippett of the University of Oregon both released studies on the subject this year, which were notably covered on NPR and in The Wall Street Journal.
Why so Stressed? 1 in 3 Workers Feels They Can’t Take Time Off
The ideal office culture is one where workers feel empowered to perform, driven to succeed, and supported in their endeavors. Find a way to evoke all these responses, and you’ll likely see plenty of productivity and — as a result — profit. But productivity isn’t just the product of an environment that encourages hard work and dedication. It’s also the bi-product of employee happiness.
Your Employees Aren’t Taking Time Off - Here’s Why That’s a Problem
As your company’s HR professional, you have a fine line to walk: On one side, you’re the defender of work — the company’s disciplinarian should that work consistently fall short. On the other, you’re the first line of defense for employees, enforcing each worker’s right to breaks and time off. But are employees really taking all the time off they’ve been given?
Benefits Workers Want Most
As an HR professional, it’s your job to make sure the benefits your company offers are competitive and desirable. It’s not just about hiring the best and brightest—it’s about retaining the great people you already have! Knowing what sorts of benefits are most valued by employees today can help you make confident plans for the coming year’s offerings. Interested in learning what benefits are most common today and what benefits employees are most excited to receive?
BYOD Myths and Facts
Are you letting these three myths get in the way of creating a company bring-your-own-device policy? According to a 2017 study by the Ponemon Institute, 1 in 4 businesses is likely to experience a data breach. Considering the average data breach cost businesses $3.62 million in 2017, there’s a lot at stake when it comes to guarding sensitive or confidential information.
How to Find the Right Employee for Work Travel: Healthy Travel Habits
Every potential hire has their strengths and weaknesses. The qualities and ideas that make them stand out in their hiring interview will be the qualities and ideas that continue to make them a good fit for your organization year after year. It’s easy to forget not every candidate shares the same ambitions. We assume everyone is motivated by a higher salary, wants recognition in front of their peers, or wants to travel.
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